Board OKs minor side-yard encroachment for two-car garage at 2892 Summit Ave.

The Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals on Aug. 21 approved a variance to allow a two-car garage addition to encroach 2.46 feet into the required side-yard setback at 2892 Summit Ave.

Staff said the existing home, built in 1957, sits in an R-6 zoning district and the requested relief is to encroach into an 8.85-foot required side-yard setback by 2.46 feet; the resulting distance to the northern property line would be 6.39 feet. The board applied Chapter 150 standards for variations in its review.

Beth DeBaker, architect for owners David and Jody Guthrie, described other design options and said the owners have lived in the house for 35 years and seek the garage to allow aging-in-place, protect vehicles from snow and improve functionality. DeBaker said the design preserves an existing tree and maintains a 6-foot minimum clearance from the neighbor’s property.

“David and Jody have lived in the house for 35 years without a garage,” DeBaker said. “Being able to park inside and avoid snow and the elements is important for their ability to stay in the home.”

Jody Guthrie, who spoke from the audience after being sworn, said she had talked with nearby neighbors and reported no objections; she added the neighboring property recently changed hands and is currently offered for rent.

Board members said the requested encroachment was modest and that the applicants had demonstrated hardship tied to lot configuration and the neighborhood’s development pattern. Member comments acknowledged the effort to preserve an existing front-yard tree and to minimize the garage footprint to two cars. The board voted aye on the motion to approve; roll-call recorded unanimous approval from members present.

The approval authorizes the small side-yard encroachment as described in the record for VAR20250053; no additional conditions beyond the application were stated on the record.